snow day!

school was cancelled as of 4pm yesterday because of the severe danger the kids would’ve been in… because of THIS snow.  the kids are so excited – it’s the blizzard of 2009!!!!!

we’ve spent the morning playing in the snow, drinking pink hot chocolate, and working on kendall’s “100th Day of Kindergarten” project.  my goal is to stay in my pajamas all day… and cozy up with my sewing machine making kendall’s birthday outfits!!!

catch-up #10: christmas 2008

we spent christmas in north carolina this year at papa jack’s house, and visited everyone in lillington too.  here are some of the highlights:

collecting pecans in papa jack’s yard (check out brian up in the tree, shaking them out!), opening gifts (wow were we all spoiled), and relaxing a lot…

catch-up #9: christmas card

thank goodness we have lorien to make us all look so pretty & handsome…

catch-up #8: christmas outtakes

these pictures say it all, but if you require explanation: cooper is a first-class goofball.  and kendall has a really pathetic fake smile.

catch-up #7: thanksgiving at the lake

we celebrated thanksgiving at lake gaston at “happy place” with mom & dad, brooke, papa jack, papa joe & nanny ruth, and mom’s co-worker/friend nikki and her family, hubby steve, son hayden, and sweet baby emma.  we had a great time relaxing, boating, fishing, cooking, and brooke & i made a total of 7 pair of pajama pants for her friends and each of us – but you’ll have to check out my craft blog for pics of all that later.  on sunday afternoon everyone left, except for me : ) — that was the last piece of my 30th birthday cake: two days of solitude at the lake… just me and my sewing machine – pure bliss!!!!!!

catch-up #6: kids outside

the kids have always grumbled about playing outside, and just recently cooper has realized that he has FUN out there – imagine the possibilities (he loves his scooter, his tricycle (though he just learned to ride his two-wheeler with training wheels three days ago), and play under the boat & behind the shed)!  kendall is slowly following his lead (she loves to run, play horsey, swing, and generally boss cooper around — but she hates riding her bike).  they also have been “walking laps” around the backyard fence, because that’s what kendall’s teacher makes them do if they misbehave in school.  fortunately, kendall’s only gotten in trouble ONE TIME at school, for sloppy handwriting.  let me tell you, if that’s the worst thing she does in school, we’ll be in GOOD shape!!!!!!

catch-up #5: charleston bday wknd

as if the nkotb concert and the pinkstravaganza wasn’t enough… brian woke me up the friday before my birthday, and whisked me away to charleston for the weekend — without kids!!!!!!!  we left after kendall & cooper were off to kindergarten & preschool, and mom & dad arrived from virginia in time to pick them both up.  we stayed for two nights in a great hotel, ate delicious and fancy food, shopped until my new “sassy” brown boots were killing my barely-still-29-year-old feet, photographed the gorgeous architecture with the NEW CAMERA he surprised me with on the way down, visited the breathtaking Angel Oak tree, and had the most romantic weekend we’ve had, well, for as long as i can remember.  IT. WAS. WONDERFUL!!!!!  see for yourself…

catch-up #4: NKOTB concert

i was a SUPERFAN of New Kids on the Block in elementary school, and am now a lifetime fan since going to their reunion tour concert in Charlotte on October 30, 2008.  that night will live in my heart forever as the night that i fell back in love with the five bad brothers from beantownland:  i love you joey joe, jordan, donnie, jonathan, and danny… i’ll be your cover girl while you’re hangin’ tough, but please don’t go girl because i’ll be lovin’ you forever.  and by the way, i’ll be your girlfriend til the song goes off… oh ya, THE BLOCK.

lorien is the best friend ever for going all out with me.  we looked super awesome (totally rad) in our side ponytails, leg warmers, neon bracelets, with NKOTB 4 LIFE written on our hands.  now she too is a SUPERFAN!!!!!

catch-up #3: jessica’s 30th pinkstravaganza

lorien threw me THE BEST SURPRISE 30th birthday party (a “PINKSTRAVAGANZA”) anyone could ever imagine, complete with my favorite fabric (amy butler’s belle) on the table, a gorgeous tablescape, pink drinks, all my closest friends, mom & brooke came into town, a professional chef prepared our meal and described each course as he & his assistant served us (omg!!!!!!!!!), and sweet gifts from all my friends.  the absolute BEST part of the evening, and something i will never ever forget, was when everyone went around the table and explained why they love me & what they admire about me.  talk about a humbling experience (me, inspiring??!! me, generous??!!) – i was completely blown away, overwhelmed with emotion literally for DAYS afterwards.  i still tremble just thinking of all the sincere expressions my dear friends shared with me, and will cherish that night forever!!!!!!

thank you lorien for hosting & going above and beyond, thank you brian for being the mastermind behind the entire surprise, thank you brooke & mom for traveling and making the night even more special, and thank you to all my friends who attended (and those who couldn’t make it) for making sure i felt soooo special on my 30th birthday – YOU ALL ARE TOTAL ROCK STARS IN MY BOOK!!!!!!!

catch up #2: halloween

since i forgot to take pictures of the kids in their costumes (man, do i feel guilty), here are a couple from our annual pumpkin patch visit.  grammy & popei were with us, but they must’ve been the photographers.

for the record, cooper was captain hook for halloween and kendall was an nc state cheerleader.  sorry i failed as the mommy-photographer!  xoxo